PHILADELPHIA (August 18, 2026)— Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and the DAO’s Homicide and Non-Fatal Shootings Unit on Tuesday announced the First-Degree Murder conviction and sentencing of Donovan K. Williams for a double shooting that killed one person and injured another in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia in July 2020 and are asking for the public’s help in identifying others involved.
Defendant Donovan K. Williams (DOB 03/07/2002) is convicted of the following:
- Murder
- Attempt to Commit Murder
- Criminal Conspiracy
- Aggravated Assault (F1)
- VUFA 6106 (F3)
- Possessing Instruments of Crime (PIC) (M1)
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2) (6 Counts)
In the evening of Sunday, July 5, 2020, Philadelphia Police Officers responded to the 1400 block of North 61st Street and found a victim, Aamir Johnson Daye, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Penn-Presbyterian Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. Investigators found that a residence on the block of 1400 North 61st Street sustained multiple gunshot strikes. A projectile traveled through the front window and across the living room before lodging into a wall with several residents and children inside the home at the time.
Surveillance video recovered from the area showed, earlier in the evening, a dark colored vehicle with tinted windows driving north on the 1400 block of North 61st Street. The vehicle stopped, its lights were turned off, and passengers remained in the vehicle. Daye and a second male were seen walking past the vehicle, three males exit the vehicle and began to pursue Daye, then return to the vehicle to continue following Daye towards the area where he was found shot. Following the shooting, the three men were seen running northbound towards Media Street holding their waistband/pocket areas. The driver of the vehicle, Defendant Donovan Williams, is observed shooting a firearm towards the direction of Daye. Further investigation associated Williams with the handgun used during the homicide.
Defendant Donovan K. Williams was convicted by a jury of his peers and sentenced to life in prison plus a consecutive 46-92 years incarceration by the Honorable Giovanni Campbell. One other co-defendant in this case, Bahij Dini, pleaded guilty to murder 3, conspiracy, and related offenses and was sentenced to 13 1/2 to 42 years. At least one other person involved has not yet been identified. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call 911.
“No family should have to experience the loss and trauma caused by reckless gun violence,” said District Attorney Larry Krasner. “This conviction and sentencing holds Donovan K. Williams accountable not only for taking a life, but for the danger his actions posed to everyone in that home that evening, and we are thankful that more individuals, including several children inside, were not injured. I want to thank ADA Jeff Hojnowski and Philadelphia Police for their determination and excellent work to bring this case to a just conclusion six years after the incident.”
“I want to thank the Homicide Detectives who worked on this case,” said ADA Jeff Hojnowski. “These detectives remained committed to this case for years in search of the perpetrators of this terrible crime. If it wasn’t for their hard work, we would not have the just outcome we announced today.”
“Our son loved his family and was a talented musician. His death is an experience we wouldn’t wish upon anyone,” said Daye’s parents. “We want to thank everybody who worked tirelessly to find justice for our son. This month is his birthday month, so the outcome of this case is the best present we could receive.”
CONTACT:
Marisa Palmer, [email protected]